Calallen pounds another opponent for run-rule victory

Calallen has outscored playoff opponents 65-8

LA JOYA - Calallen brought its high-powered, run-scoring machine to the Rio Grande Valley on Friday. Rio Grande City offered little resistance to stop it as the state's fourth-ranked team downed the Rattlers, 13-1, in five innings in Game 1 of their best-of-three Class 4A regional quarterfinal.

The Wildcats belted three home runs, including two by shortstop Wyatt Mathisen to give them their fourth playoff victory via the run rule. Calallen (34-4), which comes back this season as the Class 4A state runner-up, has now outscored its playoff opponents, 65-8.

"We're feeling pretty good about the way we are swinging the bats right now," Calallen coach Steve Chapman said. "Our kids know how important the first game of a series is, and they came prepared to play."

Game 2 is set for 4 p.m. today at Calallen. A third game, if necessary, will follow. However, if Rio Grande City (25-8) is going to force a deciding third game, the Rattlers will have to find a way to slow down the Wildcats.

"Honestly, I hadn't seen them at all until today," Rio Grande City coach Ricardo Lopez said. "We can play with them. We showed we can play with them. We know who their home run hitters are. They have two power hitters that are pretty good. (Saturday) all we are going to do is give them the base. I can guarantee you this, they won't blow us away (Saturday) like they did (Friday)."

The Wildcats wasted no time in getting the rout started, scoring three runs in the first inning, six in the second, three in the third.

Calallen outhit Rio Grande City, 11-3.

Six of those hits went for extra bases, including a pair of home runs by Mathisen (a two-run shot) and Chad Vanaman (a solo homer) that came in the first inning.

Mathisen went 3 for 3 with four RBIs. In addition to his two home runs, he had a run-scoring single in the second and a walk. Vanaman also had three RBIs as did Tate Bammert, who got his first hits of the season after battling a season-long wrist injury. Bammert went 2 for 3.

Calallen's six-run second inning was highlighted by a two-run double by Vanaman and a two-run single by Bammert for his first hit of the season. That may not have ever happened had the Rattlers not committed an error on a grounder that would have likely led to an inning-ending double play with no damage done.

"We had one error that cost us six runs, and that's what cost us the game," Lopez said.

Tanner Vandevere had a two-run double and Bammert had a sacrifice fly in the third inning. Mathisen closed out the scoring in the fifth with a solo shot to left field for his ninth homer this season.

The Wildcats' offensive output overshadowed a solid effort by pitcher Mando Arrevalo, who earned the complete-game win. He had five strikeouts and the run he allowed was unearned.